WO2018123743A1 - Optical fiber, optical fiber tape, and method for manufacturing optical fiber and optical fiber tape - Google Patents

Optical fiber, optical fiber tape, and method for manufacturing optical fiber and optical fiber tape Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018123743A1
WO2018123743A1 PCT/JP2017/045596 JP2017045596W WO2018123743A1 WO 2018123743 A1 WO2018123743 A1 WO 2018123743A1 JP 2017045596 W JP2017045596 W JP 2017045596W WO 2018123743 A1 WO2018123743 A1 WO 2018123743A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical fiber
marking
coating layer
transparent resin
layer
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PCT/JP2017/045596
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
由恵 佐島
彰 鯰江
村田　暁
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株式会社フジクラ
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Publication of WO2018123743A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018123743A1/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical fiber, an optical fiber tape, an optical fiber, and an optical fiber tape manufacturing method.
  • optical fiber tape optical fiber ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel in the width direction.
  • optical fiber tape an intermittently connected optical fiber tape in which two adjacent optical fibers are intermittently connected is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
  • a colored layer is formed on the optical fiber in order to identify the optical fiber (optical fiber strand, optical fiber core wire) constituting the optical fiber tape, and the optical fiber is different. It is color-coded by color. Further, in such an optical fiber tape, a marking for identifying the tape number is formed.
  • Patent Documents 2 and 3 describe that a translucent colored layer is formed on the outer periphery of a coating layer coated with a glass fiber, and marking is performed under the translucent colored layer (for example, Patent Documents). 2 paragraphs 0021 and 0025, and patent document 3, paragraph 0033). Patent Document 4 also describes that marking is performed under a translucent colored layer.
  • Patent Document 5 describes that the secondary resin layer is a colored layer (see paragraph 0022 of Patent Document 5).
  • Japanese Patent No. 4143651 JP 2013-88619 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-99458 Japanese Patent No. 5227996 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-70966
  • the marking is formed outside the colored layer (in this case, the secondary coating layer).
  • the marking is not hidden by the layer.
  • the secondary coating layer is made to function as a colored layer in this way, since the colored layer is not further formed around the outer periphery of the marking, the marking is exposed and the marking deteriorates. As a result, there arises a problem that the identification of the marking is deteriorated.
  • the present invention aims to improve the distinguishability of marking.
  • the main invention for achieving the above object includes an optical fiber portion comprising a core and a clad, a coating layer covering the optical fiber portion and comprising a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating.
  • An optical fiber comprising: a marking formed on a layer; and a transparent resin layer obtained by coating the secondary coating layer and the marking with a transparent resin.
  • the marking discrimination can be improved.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30.
  • FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50.
  • FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the coating device 53.
  • FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the coupling device 55 of the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of two adjacent optical fibers 10 in the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the marking layer thickness and the microbend characteristics.
  • An optical fiber portion composed of a core and a clad; a coating layer covering the optical fiber portion; a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer; a marking formed on the secondary coating layer; An optical fiber comprising a secondary coating layer and a transparent resin layer obtained by coating the marking with a transparent resin becomes clear. According to such an optical fiber, it is possible to improve the identification of the marking.
  • the colorant for coloring the secondary coating layer preferably contains a white pigment having a concealing property. This is particularly effective in such a case.
  • the thickness of the marking layer is preferably 25 ⁇ m or less. Thereby, microbend loss can be suppressed.
  • the thickness of the marking layer is in the range of 10 ⁇ m to 25 ⁇ m. Thereby, it is possible to achieve both marking discrimination and microbend characteristics.
  • an intermittently connected optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers and in which connecting portions for connecting between adjacent optical fibers are intermittently disposed, the optical fiber comprising an optical fiber comprising a core and a clad A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and comprises a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, a marking formed on the secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating layer and the marking And a transparent resin layer coated with a transparent resin, and the connecting portion is formed on the transparent resin layer.
  • the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored. Further, even when the connecting portion is broken in order to separate the optical fibers from each other, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed, and the marking discrimination can be improved.
  • optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers and in which connecting portions for connecting between adjacent optical fibers are intermittently disposed, the optical fiber comprising an optical fiber comprising a core and a clad A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and comprises a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, a marking formed on the secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating layer and the marking And a transparent resin layer coated with a transparent resin, and the connecting portion is formed of the transparent resin constituting the transparent resin layer.
  • the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored.
  • the predetermined identification color is formed by forming the marking on the secondary coating layer colored in a predetermined identification color, and forming the transparent resin layer by applying the transparent resin using a coating apparatus. After the optical fiber is manufactured, the marking is formed on the secondary coating layer colored in an identification color different from the predetermined identification color, and used for manufacturing the optical fiber of the predetermined identification color. It is preferable that the optical fiber having the different identification color is manufactured by applying the transparent resin using the coating apparatus. Thereby, a manufacturing apparatus can be made small.
  • an optical fiber tape manufacturing method characterized by comprising a step of intermittently connecting fibers. According to such an optical fiber tape manufacturing method, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the marking while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored. Further, even when the connecting portion is broken in order to separate the optical fibers from each other, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed, and the marking discrimination can be improved.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • the right view of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA or BB of the left perspective view.
  • each direction is defined as shown in FIG. That is, a direction parallel to the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 is defined as a “longitudinal direction”.
  • the direction in which the plurality of optical fibers 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 are arranged is referred to as a “width direction”.
  • a direction perpendicular to the tape surface of the optical fiber tape 1 is defined as a “thickness direction”.
  • the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is an optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fibers 10 are connected in parallel. Adjacent two optical fibers 10 are connected by a connecting portion 5. A plurality of connecting portions 5 that connect adjacent two optical fibers 10 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the some connection part 5 of the optical fiber tape 1 is arrange
  • the connecting portion 5 is formed by applying an ultraviolet curable resin serving as a connecting agent and then solidifying by applying ultraviolet rays. In addition, it is also possible to comprise the connection part 5 with a thermoplastic resin. A region other than the connecting portion 5 between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 is a non-connecting portion 7 (separating portion).
  • the adjacent two optical fibers 10 are not restrained.
  • the optical fiber tape 1 can be rounded into a cylindrical shape (bundle shape) or folded, and a large number of optical fibers 10 can be accommodated at high density.
  • the operator breaks the connecting portion 5 by tearing between the optical fibers 10.
  • the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG.
  • the number of cores of the optical fiber tape 1 may be changed.
  • the two optical fibers 10 may contact with each other at the non-connecting portion 7 or may be separated from each other.
  • the unconnected portion 7 does not necessarily have to be formed between any two optical fibers 10.
  • a plurality of two-core optical fibers connected in the longitudinal direction (two connected optical fibers without the non-connecting portion 7) are provided as subunits, and the adjacent subunits are intermittently connected.
  • An intermittently connected optical fiber tape connected by the portion 5 may be used. If the non-connecting portion 7 is arranged in the width direction at the position where the connecting portion 5 is formed, the subunit can be rounded into a cylindrical shape (bundle shape). Can be made cylindrical.
  • the optical fiber tape 1 has a marking 15.
  • the marking 15 is a mark for distinguishing the optical fiber tape 1 from other optical fiber tapes.
  • the pattern of the marking 15 indicates a tape number. Here, it is assumed that the marking 15 indicates that the tape number is “No. 2”.
  • the plurality of optical fibers 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 are color-coded by identification colors for distinguishing from the other optical fibers 10.
  • the identification color indicates the fiber number in the optical fiber tape 1. It is desirable that the identification colors of the respective optical fibers 10 are different from each other.
  • the four optical fibers 10 are color-coded into blue, white, brown, and gray, respectively. However, some of the identification colors may overlap.
  • the four optical fibers 10 may be color-coded according to a blue, white, white, and pink color arrangement, respectively.
  • the single-fiber separated optical fiber 10 is “white”, and the remaining two optical fibers 10 are If it is “white” and “pink”, the operator can identify that the fiber number of the optical fiber 10 separated from the single core is “number 2”, for example.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1.
  • a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 with the connecting portion 5 removed is shown.
  • a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 at a portion where the marking 15 is provided is shown.
  • the optical fiber 10 includes an optical fiber portion 11, a covering portion 13, a marking 15, and a transparent resin layer 17.
  • the optical fiber part 11 is a part composed of a core 11A and a clad 11B.
  • the optical fiber part 11 is comprised, for example from a glass optical fiber.
  • the diameter of the optical fiber portion 11 is about 125 ⁇ m.
  • the covering portion 13 is a portion that covers the outer periphery of the optical fiber portion 11.
  • the covering portion 13 has a two-layer structure, and includes a primary covering layer 13A (primary coating) and a secondary covering layer 13B (secondary coating).
  • the diameter of the covering portion 13 (the outer diameter of the secondary covering layer 13B) is about 240 ⁇ m.
  • the primary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> A is a coating layer that covers the outer periphery of the optical fiber portion 11.
  • the primary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> A is a layer in contact with the optical fiber portion 11.
  • the primary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> A has a cushion function against an external force for the purpose of suppressing the transmission loss (transmission loss due to bending) of the optical fiber portion 11. Low material is used.
  • the secondary coating layer 13B is a coating layer that covers the outer periphery of the primary coating layer 13A.
  • the secondary coating layer 13B is made of a tough material having a relatively high Young's modulus and high elongation in order to increase the mechanical strength.
  • the secondary coating layer 13B is colored with an identification color. Thereby, the secondary coating layer 13B also has a function as a colored layer.
  • a colorant used for coloring the secondary coating layer 13B it is possible to use a colorant having high concealability that does not easily transmit light.
  • a colorant containing titanium oxide is highly concealable, but even if the secondary coating layer 13B is colored using such a colorant, the marking 15 is still on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B). Since it is formed, the marking 15 is not concealed. For this reason, this embodiment is particularly effective when the secondary coating layer 13B is colored using a colorant containing titanium oxide.
  • the white pigment having concealing property is not limited to titanium oxide, and for example, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithopone (a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfate), lead white, etc. may be used.
  • a colorant it is also effective to use a colorant to be contained.
  • titanium oxide is desirable as the white pigment having hiding properties.
  • a coloring agent used for coloring the secondary coating layer 13B a coloring agent having a low concealability can be used.
  • the marking 15 is formed on the secondary coating layer 13B.
  • the marking 15 is formed of marking ink.
  • the marking 15 is formed only on a part of the optical fiber 10 in the circumferential direction, but the marking 15 may be formed over the entire circumference.
  • the marking 15 is formed on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B), the marking 15 is easily visible. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the layer of the marking 15. As will be described later, the thickness of the marking 15 layer is desirably 25 ⁇ m or less, and more desirably within a range of 10 ⁇ m to 25 ⁇ m. If a colored layer having high concealability is formed on the marking, the marking becomes difficult to visually recognize, so that the marking layer needs to be thick. However, when the marking layer is formed thick, there arises a problem that the microbend characteristics are deteriorated. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the marking 15 can be made thin, the microbend characteristics can be improved. That is, in this embodiment, it is possible to solve both of the conflicting problems of improving the distinguishability of the marking 15 and improving the microbend characteristics.
  • the transparent resin layer 17 is a transparent resin layer that covers the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> B and the marking 15. In a portion where the marking 15 is not applied, the transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B. The transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the marking 15 at the site where the marking 15 is applied. The diameter of the transparent resin layer 17 is about 250 ⁇ m.
  • a colored colored layer is formed on the surface of a transparent coating layer (specifically, a secondary coating layer). In this embodiment, the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking are formed.
  • a transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer 17) is formed on the surface 15.
  • the transparent resin constituting the transparent resin layer 17 has substantially the same configuration as the colorant constituting the normal colored colored layer, but is different from the colorant in that no colored pigment is contained.
  • transparent means that light is transmitted through the transparent resin layer 17 to the extent that the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13B is visible without impairing the identification of the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13B. Means that. For this reason, the transparent resin layer 17 is allowed to be translucent. If the transparent resin layer 17 is transparent to the extent that the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> B can be visually recognized, the relatively dark marking 15 can also be visually recognized through the transparent resin layer 17.
  • the transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the marking 15, the marking 15 is not exposed to the outside, so that the marking 15 can be protected by the transparent resin layer 17. For this reason, according to this embodiment, it can suppress that the marking 15 peels.
  • a plurality of optical fibers 10 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in parallel, and the adjacent two optical fibers 10 are intermittently connected by the connecting portion 5, whereby the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 shown in FIG. 1.
  • the connecting portion 5 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is formed by applying a connecting agent to the outside of the transparent resin layer 17 of the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 and then solidifying the connecting agent.
  • the marking 15 is peeled off because the marking 15 is protected by the transparent resin layer 17. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is particularly effective to use the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 for the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 can also be used for applications other than the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30.
  • the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30 includes a supply device 31, a printing device 32, a coating device 33, a curing device 34, and a fiber drum 39.
  • the supply device 31 is a supply source that supplies an optical fiber.
  • the optical fiber supplied from the supply device 31 is the one before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed, and the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in advance with a predetermined identification color.
  • the supply device 31 supplies the optical fiber from a supply drum around which the optical fiber is wound. However, the supply device 31 does not wind the optical fiber drawn from the base material around the drum. You may supply directly to.
  • the printing device 32 is a device that prints the marking 15 on an optical fiber (an optical fiber before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed).
  • the printing device 32 is, for example, an ink jet printer, but may be a printer that transfers ink with a roller.
  • the optical fiber to which the marking 15 is applied (the optical fiber before the formation of the transparent resin layer 17) is sent out from the printing device 32 to the coating device 33.
  • the coating device 33 is a device that applies a transparent resin to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> B and the marking 15.
  • the coating device 33 applies a transparent resin that constitutes the transparent resin layer 17.
  • the transparent resin to be applied by the coating device 33 is an ultraviolet curable resin here, but may be a thermoplastic resin.
  • the curing device 34 is a device for curing the transparent resin applied by the coating device 33.
  • the transparent resin is an ultraviolet curable resin
  • the curing device 34 includes an irradiation device that irradiates ultraviolet rays.
  • the transparent resin is cured in the curing device 34, the transparent resin layer 17 that covers the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 is formed. That is, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured.
  • the manufactured optical fiber 10 is wound around a fiber drum 39.
  • a coloring step for forming a colored layer after the marking 15 is formed becomes unnecessary. That is, in the present embodiment, a coloring device for forming a colored layer is not necessary on the downstream side of the printing device 32.
  • the optical fiber 10 having a predetermined identification color is manufactured by forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 on the secondary coating layer colored in a predetermined identification color (for example, blue).
  • the optical fiber 10 of another identification color is manufactured by forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 on the secondary coating layer colored in another identification color (for example, yellow), the same coating apparatus is used. 33 (and curing device 34) can be used.
  • the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus becomes large-scale. End up.
  • the optical fiber 10 of a different identification color the optical fiber supplied from the supply device 31 (the optical fiber before forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17, the secondary coating layer). If the optical fiber 13B is colored in advance with a predetermined identification color), the printing device 32, the coating device 33, and the curing device 34 can be used as they are, so that the optical fiber manufacturing device 30 can be reduced in scale. become.
  • FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50.
  • FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the coating device 53.
  • the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 includes a supply device 51, a printing device 52, a coating device 53, a curing device 54, a connecting device 55, and a tape drum 59.
  • the supply device 51 is a supply source that supplies a plurality of optical fibers.
  • the optical fiber supplied from the supply device 51 is the one before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed, and the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in a predetermined identification color in advance.
  • the supply device 51 supplies optical fibers from a plurality of supply drums.
  • the supply device 51 may supply the optical fiber drawn from the base material directly to the printing device 52 without winding it around a drum.
  • the printing device 52 is a device that prints the marking 15 on a plurality of optical fibers.
  • a common pattern of markings 15 is printed on the plurality of optical fibers.
  • the printing apparatus 52 that transfers ink from a roller to a plurality of optical fibers can simultaneously print on a plurality of optical fibers at a high speed with a single printing apparatus 52. ,preferable.
  • the longitudinal positions of the markings 15 of the optical fibers 10 can be aligned as shown in FIG.
  • the coating device 53 is a device that applies a transparent resin to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 ⁇ / b> B and the marking 15.
  • the coating device 53 includes a coating die 53A including a plurality of fiber insertion holes 53B.
  • the internal space of the coating die 53A is filled with a transparent resin, and the optical fiber coated with the transparent resin is sent out from the fiber insertion hole 53B when the optical fiber is inserted into the fiber insertion hole 53B of the coating die 53A.
  • a common transparent resin can be applied to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 of a plurality of optical fibers.
  • the tape manufacturing device 50 becomes large-scale. End up.
  • the structure of the coating device 53 can be simplified and the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 can be reduced in scale. It becomes possible to do.
  • the curing device 54 (see FIG. 4A) is a device for curing the transparent resin applied by the coating device 53.
  • the curing device 54 is configured by an irradiation device that irradiates a plurality of optical fibers with ultraviolet rays.
  • the transparent resin is cured in the curing device 54, the transparent resin layer 17 that covers the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 is formed. That is, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured.
  • the connecting device 55 is a device that forms the optical fiber tape 1 by connecting the optical fibers 10 with a connecting agent.
  • the coupling device 55 applies the coupling agent (ultraviolet curable resin) between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 and cures the coupling agent by irradiating ultraviolet rays, whereby the intermittently coupled optical fiber tape 1 is removed.
  • the coupling device 55 after temporarily applying the coupling agent around the plurality of optical fibers 10 in parallel or between the optical fibers 10, after removing a part of the applied coupling agent, by irradiating ultraviolet rays, An intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 may be formed.
  • the coupling agent is not limited to the ultraviolet curable resin, and may be a thermoplastic resin or other adhesive.
  • the manufactured optical fiber tape 1 is wound around a tape drum 59.
  • the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is once manufactured by forming a transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer 17) on the surface of the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15. Then, by applying and solidifying a connecting agent (tape agent) to the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2, the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured. For this reason, in the manufacturing method described above, the connecting portion 4 formed by the connecting agent is formed outside the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the transparent resin layer 17 formed on the surface of the marking 15. . However, you may form the transparent secondary resin layer 13B and the transparent resin layer which forms on the surface of the marking 15 with a coupling agent (tape agent). That is, by using the transparent resin layer 17 and the connecting portion 5 together, the connecting portion 5 may be formed of the transparent resin that constitutes the transparent resin layer 17.
  • FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the coupling device 55 of the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view of a portion connected by the connecting portion 5) of two adjacent optical fibers 10 in the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of the second embodiment.
  • the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment includes a supply device 51, a printing device 52, a connecting device 55, and a tape drum 59. Note that the coating device 53 and the curing device 54 arranged between the printing device 52 and the connecting device 55 in the above-described embodiment are not arranged in the second embodiment (see FIG. 5A). For this reason, the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 of 2nd Embodiment is simplified compared with 1st Embodiment.
  • the supply device 51 supplies the printing device 52 with the optical fiber (the optical fiber before forming the marking 15) having the secondary coating layer 13B colored in a predetermined identification color, as in the above-described embodiment.
  • the printing device 52 forms the marking 15 on the secondary coating layer 13B as in the above-described embodiment.
  • the printing device 52 since the coating device 53 and the curing device 54 are not disposed between the printing device 52 and the coupling device 55, the printing device 52 supplies the optical fiber on which the marking 15 is formed to the coupling device 55. It will be.
  • the connecting device 55 includes an application unit 551, a removal unit 552, and a curing unit (not shown).
  • Application unit 551 is an apparatus that applies a coupling agent to an optical fiber.
  • the coupling agent is made of a transparent resin, and here is made of a transparent ultraviolet curable resin.
  • the application unit 551 applies a liquid linking agent around each optical fiber in the longitudinal direction by inserting a plurality of optical fibers through a coating die filled with a liquid linking agent, and adjacent optical fibers. A liquid linking agent is also applied between the two.
  • the removal unit 552 is a device that removes a part of the coupling agent applied by the application unit 551 while leaving a part of the binder.
  • the removal unit 552 has a rotary blade 552A having a recess, and rotates the rotary blade 552A in accordance with the supply speed of the optical fiber.
  • the coupling agent applied between the two adjacent optical fibers is removed by the outer edge of the rotary blade 552A, but the coupling agent remains in the recess of the rotary blade 552A.
  • the liquid connecting agent is applied to the periphery of each optical fiber (the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15) along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber by the applying unit 551 and the removing unit 552 and adjacent to each other.
  • a liquid coupling agent is intermittently applied between the optical fibers. Note that the method using the removing unit 552 is not limited as long as the connecting agent can be intermittently applied between adjacent optical fibers.
  • the curing unit is an apparatus for curing the linking agent, and here is a light source that irradiates the linking agent made of an ultraviolet curable resin with ultraviolet rays.
  • the intermittent connection type optical fiber tape 1 is formed by curing the coupling agent by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the curing portion. Note that the linking agent remaining between the two adjacent optical fibers becomes the connecting portion 5 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. Further, the portion from which the coupling agent is removed between the two adjacent optical fibers becomes the non-connected portion 7 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • the binder applied to the periphery of the optical fiber (the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15) in the longitudinal direction remains as it is around the optical fiber without being removed by the removing unit 552, It becomes a transparent resin layer covering the surface of the coating layer 13B and the marking 15.
  • a transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer formed by a coupling agent) is formed on the surfaces of the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15. For this reason, also in 2nd Embodiment, since the marking 15 is not exposed outside, the marking 15 can be protected by the transparent resin layer.
  • the marking 15 is printed on the optical fiber in which the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in an identification color, and the transparent resin layer 17 is formed. 2, 12 optical fibers 10 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 were manufactured, and the connecting portion 5 was intermittently formed between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 to manufacture the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
  • the marking is printed on the transparent secondary coating layer, and the 12 optical fibers in which the colored layer is formed on the secondary coating layer and the marking, An intermittently connected optical fiber tape was manufactured.
  • Example 1 In the intermittently connected optical fiber tapes of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, 12 optical fibers are color-coded with different identification colors. However, in Example 1, the secondary coating layer 13B is color-coded by being colored, whereas in Comparative Example 1, it is color-coded by the secondary coating layer and the colored layer covering the marking.
  • the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 which manufactured the optical fiber tape 1 of Example 1 compared with the tape manufacturing apparatus which manufactured the optical fiber tape of the comparative example 1, 12 color layers are each downstream in the printing apparatus 52, respectively. Since the coloring apparatus for forming is unnecessary, the manufacturing apparatus can be reduced in scale.
  • Example 1 had better marking discrimination than Comparative Example 1.
  • the reason for this is considered that the marking 15 is identified through the transparent resin layer 17 in Example 1 while the marking is identified through the colored layer in Comparative Example 1.
  • Example 1 showed good discrimination of the same color. This is because the white, gray, light blue, and pink colorants contained a white pigment (specifically, titanium oxide) having a concealing property, and in Comparative Example 1, the colored layer concealed the marking. On the other hand, in Example 1, since the marking 15 is formed on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B), it is considered that the marking 15 was not concealed. For this reason, it was confirmed that it was particularly effective when the secondary coating layer was colored using a colorant containing titanium oxide.
  • a white pigment specifically, titanium oxide
  • Example 2 Next, evaluation of the discriminability of the marking after single-fiber separation of the optical fiber of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape was performed.
  • Example 2 the optical fiber 10 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of Example 1 described above was separated from the single fiber, and then the connecting agent (attached to the optical fiber 10 using a removal tool such as a file was used. The connecting part 5) was removed and the discrimination of the marking 15 was evaluated on it.
  • Comparative Example 2 after single-fiber separation of the optical fiber of the optical fiber tape of Comparative Example 1 described above, the connecting agent (connecting portion) was similarly removed, and the marking discrimination was evaluated. The evaluation results are as shown in Table 2 below.
  • Example 2 had better marking discrimination than Comparative Example 2. The reason for this is that in Example 2, marking peeling was not confirmed, whereas in Comparative Example 2, it was confirmed that a part of the marking was peeled off. It is thought that it was because of.
  • Example 3 As the optical fiber of Example 3, the marking 15 is printed on the optical fiber in which the secondary coating layer 13B is colored with a colorant containing titanium oxide (colorant having high concealment) to form the transparent resin layer 17. Thus, the single-core optical fiber 10 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 was manufactured. In addition, as an optical fiber of Comparative Example 3, a marking is printed on a transparent secondary coating layer, and a colorant in which titanium oxide is blended on the secondary coating layer and the marking (colorant having high concealability). A single-core optical fiber formed with a colored layer colored with was manufactured. In Example 3 and Comparative Example 3, a plurality of types of single-core optical fibers having different marking layer thicknesses were manufactured. Note that any single-core optical fiber is an A2 fiber that conforms to recommendation G657 of the international standard organization ITU-T.
  • the microbend loss fluctuation amount of each single-core optical fiber having a different marking layer thickness was measured.
  • the microbend loss fluctuation amount was measured by a measuring method based on IEC / TR62221 (Edition 2.0). Measurement conditions are # 360 for mesh and 100 gf for tension.
  • the microbend loss fluctuation amount was evaluated using a value at a measurement wavelength of 1550 nm. The measurement results are as shown in FIG.
  • the horizontal axis in the figure indicates the marking layer thickness (specifically, the maximum film thickness).
  • the vertical axis represents transmission loss (unit: dB / km) indicating the microbend loss fluctuation amount.
  • microbend loss fluctuation amount increases as the marking layer becomes thicker, as shown by the solid line rising to the right in the figure (straight line based on the least square method).
  • the marking layer was 25 ⁇ m or less, it was confirmed that the microbend loss fluctuation amount was 0.4 dB / km or less, which is a criterion.
  • the optical fiber with different marking layer thicknesses was evaluated comprehensively for marking discrimination and microbend characteristics.
  • the microbend loss fluctuation amount is 0.4 dB / km or less
  • the microbend characteristic is evaluated as “good”
  • the microbend loss fluctuation amount is higher than 0.4 dB / km
  • the microbend characteristic is “bad”. It was evaluated.
  • the evaluation results are as shown in Table 3 below.
  • the marking discriminability is better in Example 3 than in Comparative Example 3 when the marking layer thickness is 25 ⁇ m or less where the microbend loss fluctuation amount is 0.4 dB / km or less, which is the criterion. It was confirmed. Further, in Example 3, it was confirmed that the marking discriminability and the microbend characteristics are compatible in the marking layer thickness range of 10 ⁇ m to 25 ⁇ m. Further, in the range where the marking layer thickness is 10 ⁇ m or less, it was confirmed that the marking could be identified in Example 3 although the marking identification in Comparative Example 3 was poor.
  • optical fiber tape 5 connecting part, 7 non-connecting part, 10 optical fiber, 11 optical fiber part, 11A core, 11B cladding, 13 coating part, 13A primary coating layer, 13B secondary coating layer, 15 marking, 17 transparent resin layer, 30 optical fiber manufacturing equipment, 31 feeding equipment, 32 printing device, 33 coating device, 34 curing device, 39 fiber drum, 50 tape manufacturing equipment, 51 feeding equipment, 52 printing device, 53 coating device, 53A coating die, 53B fiber insertion hole, 54 curing device, 55 coupling device, 59 drum for tape

Abstract

[Problem] To improve the distinctiveness of a marking. [Solution] An optical fiber according to the present disclosure comprises: an optical fiber part made up of a core and cladding; a coating layer made up of a primary coating layer and a secondary colored coating layer and coating the optical fiber part; a marking formed on the secondary coating layer; and a transparent resin layer that coats the secondary coating layer and the marking with a transparent resin.

Description

光ファイバ、光ファイバテープ、光ファイバ及び光ファイバテープの製造方法Optical fiber, optical fiber tape, optical fiber, and optical fiber tape manufacturing method
　本発明は、光ファイバ、光ファイバテープ、光ファイバ及び光ファイバテープの製造方法に関する。 The present invention relates to an optical fiber, an optical fiber tape, an optical fiber, and an optical fiber tape manufacturing method.
　幅方向に並列させた複数の光ファイバを有する光ファイバテープ（光ファイバテープ心線）が知られている。このような光ファイバテープとして、隣接する２心の光ファイバを間欠的に連結した間欠連結型光ファイバテープなどが知られている（例えば特許文献１～３参照）。 An optical fiber tape (optical fiber ribbon) having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel in the width direction is known. As such an optical fiber tape, an intermittently connected optical fiber tape in which two adjacent optical fibers are intermittently connected is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
　このような間欠連結型光ファイバテープでは、当該光ファイバテープを構成する光ファイバ（光ファイバ素線、光ファイバ心線）を識別するために、光ファイバに着色層が形成され、光ファイバが異なる色で色分けされている。また、このような光ファイバテープでは、テープ番号を識別するためのマーキングが形成されている。特許文献２、３には、ガラスファイバを被覆した被覆層の外周囲に半透明の着色層を形成するとともに、半透明な着色層の下にマーキングを施すことが記載されている（例えば特許文献２の段落００２１、００２５、特許文献３の段落００３３参照）。なお、特許文献４においても、半透明な着色層の下にマーキングを施すことが記載されている。 In such an intermittently connected optical fiber tape, a colored layer is formed on the optical fiber in order to identify the optical fiber (optical fiber strand, optical fiber core wire) constituting the optical fiber tape, and the optical fiber is different. It is color-coded by color. Further, in such an optical fiber tape, a marking for identifying the tape number is formed. Patent Documents 2 and 3 describe that a translucent colored layer is formed on the outer periphery of a coating layer coated with a glass fiber, and marking is performed under the translucent colored layer (for example, Patent Documents). 2 paragraphs 0021 and 0025, and patent document 3, paragraph 0033). Patent Document 4 also describes that marking is performed under a translucent colored layer.
　また、被覆層の外周囲に着色層を形成する代わりに、被覆層（セカンダリ樹脂層）を着色することも可能である。例えば特許文献５には、セカンダリ樹脂層を着色層とすることが記載されている（特許文献５の段落００２２参照）。 Further, instead of forming a colored layer around the outer periphery of the coating layer, it is also possible to color the coating layer (secondary resin layer). For example, Patent Document 5 describes that the secondary resin layer is a colored layer (see paragraph 0022 of Patent Document 5).
特許第４１４３６５１号公報Japanese Patent No. 4143651 特開２０１３－８８６１９号公報JP 2013-88619 A 特開２０１６－９９４５８号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-99458 特許第５２２７９９６号公報Japanese Patent No. 5227996 特開２０１６－７０９６６号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-70966
　特許文献３，４に記載のように、マーキングが着色層の下層に形成されると、着色層によってマーキングが隠蔽されるため、マーキングの識別性が悪くなるという問題が生じる。 As described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, when the marking is formed in the lower layer of the colored layer, the marking is concealed by the colored layer, which causes a problem that the identification of the marking is deteriorated.
　特許文献５に記載のように、二次被覆層（セカンダリ樹脂層）を着色した場合には、マーキングが着色層（この場合、二次被覆層）の外側に形成されることになるため、着色層によってマーキングが隠蔽されずに済む。但し、このように二次被覆層を着色層として機能させた場合には、マーキングの外周囲に更に着色層は形成されることは無いため、マーキングが露出した構成になるので、マーキングが劣化しやすくなり、この結果、マーキングの識別性が悪くなるという問題が生じる。 As described in Patent Document 5, when the secondary coating layer (secondary resin layer) is colored, the marking is formed outside the colored layer (in this case, the secondary coating layer). The marking is not hidden by the layer. However, when the secondary coating layer is made to function as a colored layer in this way, since the colored layer is not further formed around the outer periphery of the marking, the marking is exposed and the marking deteriorates. As a result, there arises a problem that the identification of the marking is deteriorated.
　本発明は、マーキングの識別性を向上させることを目的とする。 The present invention aims to improve the distinguishability of marking.
　上記目的を達成するための主たる発明は、コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層とを備えることを特徴とする光ファイバである。 The main invention for achieving the above object includes an optical fiber portion comprising a core and a clad, a coating layer covering the optical fiber portion and comprising a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating. An optical fiber comprising: a marking formed on a layer; and a transparent resin layer obtained by coating the secondary coating layer and the marking with a transparent resin.
　本発明の他の特徴については、後述する明細書及び図面の記載により明らかにする。 Other features of the present invention will be made clear by the description and drawings described later.
　本発明によれば、マーキングの識別性を向上させることができる。 According to the present invention, the marking discrimination can be improved.
図１は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の説明図である。FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. 図２は、光ファイバテープ１を構成する光ファイバ１０の断面図である。FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1. 図３は、光ファイバ製造装置３０の説明図である。FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30. 図４Ａは、テープ製造装置５０の説明図である。図４Ｂは、塗布装置５３の説明図である。FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the coating device 53. 図５Ａは、第２実施形態のテープ製造装置５０の説明図である。図５Ｂは、第２実施形態の連結装置５５の説明図である。図５Ｃは、第２実施形態の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１において隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０の断面図である。FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the coupling device 55 of the second embodiment. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of two adjacent optical fibers 10 in the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of the second embodiment. 図６は、マーキング層厚とマイクロベンド特性との関係を示すグラフである。FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the marking layer thickness and the microbend characteristics.
　後述する明細書及び図面の記載から、少なくとも以下の事項が明らかとなる。 At least the following matters will become clear from the description and drawings described below.
　コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層とを備えることを特徴とする光ファイバが明らかとなる。このような光ファイバによれば、マーキングの識別性を向上させることができる。 An optical fiber portion composed of a core and a clad; a coating layer covering the optical fiber portion; a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer; a marking formed on the secondary coating layer; An optical fiber comprising a secondary coating layer and a transparent resin layer obtained by coating the marking with a transparent resin becomes clear. According to such an optical fiber, it is possible to improve the identification of the marking.
　前記二次被覆層を着色する着色剤は、隠蔽性を有する白色顔料を含むことが望ましい。このような場合に特に有効である。 The colorant for coloring the secondary coating layer preferably contains a white pigment having a concealing property. This is particularly effective in such a case.
　前記マーキングの層の厚さが２５μｍ以下であることが望ましい。これにより、マイクロベンド損失を抑制できる。 The thickness of the marking layer is preferably 25 μm or less. Thereby, microbend loss can be suppressed.
　前記マーキングの層の厚さが１０μｍ以上２５μｍ以下の範囲内であることが望ましい。これにより、マーキングの識別性とマイクロベンド特性の両立を図ることができる。 It is desirable that the thickness of the marking layer is in the range of 10 μm to 25 μm. Thereby, it is possible to achieve both marking discrimination and microbend characteristics.
　複数本の光ファイバを備え、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を連結する連結部が間欠的に配置された間欠連結型の光ファイバテープであって、前記光ファイバは、コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層とを備え、前記連結部は、前記透明樹脂層の上に形成されていることを特徴とする間欠連結型の光ファイバテープが明らかとなる。このような光ファイバテープによれば、二次被覆層を着色した構成を採用しつつ、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができる。また、光ファイバを単心分離するために連結部を破壊したときにおいても、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができ、マーキングの識別性を向上させることができる。 It is an intermittently connected optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers and in which connecting portions for connecting between adjacent optical fibers are intermittently disposed, the optical fiber comprising an optical fiber comprising a core and a clad A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and comprises a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, a marking formed on the secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating layer and the marking And a transparent resin layer coated with a transparent resin, and the connecting portion is formed on the transparent resin layer. According to such an optical fiber tape, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored. Further, even when the connecting portion is broken in order to separate the optical fibers from each other, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed, and the marking discrimination can be improved.
　複数本の光ファイバを備え、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を連結する連結部が間欠的に配置された間欠連結型の光ファイバテープであって、前記光ファイバは、コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層とを備え、前記連結部は、前記透明樹脂層を構成する前記透明樹脂によって形成されていることを特徴とする間欠連結型の光ファイバテープが明らかとなる。このような光ファイバテープによれば、二次被覆層を着色した構成を採用しつつ、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができる。 It is an intermittently connected optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers and in which connecting portions for connecting between adjacent optical fibers are intermittently disposed, the optical fiber comprising an optical fiber comprising a core and a clad A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and comprises a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer, a marking formed on the secondary coating layer, and the secondary coating layer and the marking And a transparent resin layer coated with a transparent resin, and the connecting portion is formed of the transparent resin constituting the transparent resin layer. According to such an optical fiber tape, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored.
　着色された二次被覆層を備えた光ファイバを供給する工程と、前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングを形成する工程と、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層を形成する工程とを備えることを特徴とする光ファイバ製造方法が明らかとなる。このような光ファイバ製造方法によれば、マーキングの識別性を向上させることができる。 A step of supplying an optical fiber having a colored secondary coating layer, a step of forming a marking on the secondary coating layer, and a transparent resin layer in which the secondary coating layer and the marking are coated with a transparent resin. An optical fiber manufacturing method characterized by comprising the steps of: According to such an optical fiber manufacturing method, the discriminability of marking can be improved.
　所定の識別色に着色された前記二次被覆層の上に前記マーキングを形成し、塗布装置を用いて前記透明樹脂を塗布することによって前記透明樹脂層を形成することによって、前記所定の識別色の光ファイバを製造した後、前記所定の識別色とは別の識別色に着色された前記二次被覆層の上に前記マーキングを形成し、前記所定の識別色の光ファイバの製造に用いられた前記塗布装置を用いて前記透明樹脂を塗布することによって、前記別の識別色の光ファイバを製造することが望ましい。これにより、製造装置を小規模にすることができる。 The predetermined identification color is formed by forming the marking on the secondary coating layer colored in a predetermined identification color, and forming the transparent resin layer by applying the transparent resin using a coating apparatus. After the optical fiber is manufactured, the marking is formed on the secondary coating layer colored in an identification color different from the predetermined identification color, and used for manufacturing the optical fiber of the predetermined identification color. It is preferable that the optical fiber having the different identification color is manufactured by applying the transparent resin using the coating apparatus. Thereby, a manufacturing apparatus can be made small.
　着色された二次被覆層によって色分けされた複数の光ファイバを供給する工程と、前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングをそれぞれ形成する工程と、前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層をそれぞれ形成する工程と、前記透明樹脂層で被覆された前記複数の光ファイバに対して、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を間欠的に連結する工程と、を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバテープ製造方法が明らかとなる。このような光ファイバテープ製造方法によれば、二次被覆層を着色した構成を採用しつつ、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができる。また、光ファイバを単心分離するために連結部を破壊したときにおいても、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができ、マーキングの識別性を向上させることができる。 Supplying a plurality of optical fibers color-coded by a colored secondary coating layer; forming a marking on the secondary coating layer for each of the plurality of optical fibers; and A step of forming a secondary resin layer and a transparent resin layer in which the marking is coated with a transparent resin, and a plurality of the optical fibers coated with the transparent resin layer. And an optical fiber tape manufacturing method characterized by comprising a step of intermittently connecting fibers. According to such an optical fiber tape manufacturing method, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the marking while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored. Further, even when the connecting portion is broken in order to separate the optical fibers from each other, the deterioration of the marking can be suppressed, and the marking discrimination can be improved.
　内部に前記透明樹脂が充填されたコーティングダイスの複数の挿通穴に、異なる識別色の複数の光ファイバを挿通させることによって、前記複数の光ファイバに対して前記透明樹脂をそれぞれ塗布することが望ましい。これにより、製造装置を小規模にすることができる。 It is desirable to apply the transparent resin to the plurality of optical fibers by inserting a plurality of optical fibers of different identification colors into the plurality of insertion holes of the coating die filled with the transparent resin therein. . Thereby, a manufacturing apparatus can be made small.
　着色された二次被覆層によって色分けされた複数の光ファイバを供給する工程と、前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングをそれぞれ形成する工程と、前記光ファイバの長手方向にわたって、それぞれの光ファイバの前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングの表面に連結剤を塗布するとともに、隣接する光ファイバの間に間欠的に前記連結剤を塗布する工程と、前記連結剤を硬化させて、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を間欠的に連結するとともに、それぞれの光ファイバの前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングの表面に透明樹脂層を形成する工程と、を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバテープ製造方法が明らかとなる。このような光ファイバテープ製造方法によれば、二次被覆層を着色した構成を採用しつつ、マーキングの劣化を抑制することができる。 Supplying a plurality of optical fibers color-coded by a colored secondary coating layer; forming a marking on the secondary coating layer for each of the plurality of optical fibers; and A step of applying a coupling agent to the surface of the secondary coating layer and the marking of each optical fiber in the longitudinal direction, and intermittently applying the coupling agent between adjacent optical fibers; Curing and intermittently connecting between the adjacent optical fibers, and forming a transparent resin layer on the surface of the secondary coating layer and the marking of each optical fiber, An optical fiber tape manufacturing method is clarified. According to such an optical fiber tape manufacturing method, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the marking while adopting a configuration in which the secondary coating layer is colored.
　＝＝＝第１実施形態＝＝＝
　＜間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の構成＞
　図１は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の説明図である。図１の右図は、左図である斜視図のＡ－Ａ又はＢ－Ｂにおける断面図である。 === First Embodiment ===
<Configuration of intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1>
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. The right view of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA or BB of the left perspective view.
　以下の説明では、図１に示す通り、各方向を定義する。すなわち、光ファイバテープ１を構成する光ファイバ１０に平行な方向を「長手方向」とする。また、光ファイバテープ１を構成する複数の光ファイバ１０の並ぶ方向を「幅方向」とする。また、光ファイバテープ１のテープ面に垂直な方向を「厚さ方向」とする。 In the following description, each direction is defined as shown in FIG. That is, a direction parallel to the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 is defined as a “longitudinal direction”. The direction in which the plurality of optical fibers 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 are arranged is referred to as a “width direction”. A direction perpendicular to the tape surface of the optical fiber tape 1 is defined as a “thickness direction”.
　間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１は、複数の光ファイバ１０を並列させて間欠的に連結した光ファイバテープである。隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０は、連結部５によって連結されている。隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０を連結する複数の連結部５は、長手方向に間欠的に配置されている。また、光ファイバテープ１の複数の連結部５は、長手方向及び幅方向に２次元的に間欠的に配置されている。連結部５は、連結剤となる紫外線硬化樹脂を塗布した後に紫外線を照射して固化することによって、形成されている。なお、連結部５を熱可塑性樹脂で構成することも可能である。隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０間の連結部５以外の領域は、非連結部７（分離部）になっている。非連結部７では、隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０同士は拘束されていない。これにより、光ファイバテープ１を丸めて筒状（束状）にしたり、折りたたんだりすることが可能になり、多数の光ファイバ１０を高密度に収容することが可能になる。光ファイバテープ１から光ファイバ１０を単心分離するとき、作業者は、光ファイバ１０の間を引き裂くなどして、連結部５を破壊することになる。 The intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is an optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fibers 10 are connected in parallel. Adjacent two optical fibers 10 are connected by a connecting portion 5. A plurality of connecting portions 5 that connect adjacent two optical fibers 10 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the some connection part 5 of the optical fiber tape 1 is arrange | positioned intermittently two-dimensionally in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The connecting portion 5 is formed by applying an ultraviolet curable resin serving as a connecting agent and then solidifying by applying ultraviolet rays. In addition, it is also possible to comprise the connection part 5 with a thermoplastic resin. A region other than the connecting portion 5 between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 is a non-connecting portion 7 (separating portion). In the unconnected portion 7, the adjacent two optical fibers 10 are not restrained. Thereby, the optical fiber tape 1 can be rounded into a cylindrical shape (bundle shape) or folded, and a large number of optical fibers 10 can be accommodated at high density. When the optical fiber 10 is separated from the optical fiber tape 1, the operator breaks the connecting portion 5 by tearing between the optical fibers 10.
　なお、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１は、図１に示すものに限られるものではない。例えば、光ファイバテープ１の心数を変更しても良い。また、間欠的に配置されている連結部５の配置を変更しても良い。また、２心の光ファイバ１０が非連結部７で接触しても良いし、離間していても良い。また、いずれかの２心の光ファイバ１０の間に非連結部７が必ずしも形成されていなくても良い。例えば、長手方向にわたって連結された２心の光ファイバ（非連結部７の無い連結された２心の光ファイバ）をサブユニットして複数備えており、隣接するサブユニットの間を間欠的に連結部５で連結させた間欠連結型の光ファイバテープでも良い。なお、連結部５の形成された位置の幅方向に非連結部７が配置されていれば、サブユニットを丸めて筒状（束状）にすることが可能になるため、光ファイバテープを丸めて筒状にすることが可能になる。 The intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, the number of cores of the optical fiber tape 1 may be changed. Moreover, you may change arrangement | positioning of the connection part 5 arrange | positioned intermittently. Further, the two optical fibers 10 may contact with each other at the non-connecting portion 7 or may be separated from each other. Further, the unconnected portion 7 does not necessarily have to be formed between any two optical fibers 10. For example, a plurality of two-core optical fibers connected in the longitudinal direction (two connected optical fibers without the non-connecting portion 7) are provided as subunits, and the adjacent subunits are intermittently connected. An intermittently connected optical fiber tape connected by the portion 5 may be used. If the non-connecting portion 7 is arranged in the width direction at the position where the connecting portion 5 is formed, the subunit can be rounded into a cylindrical shape (bundle shape). Can be made cylindrical.
　光ファイバテープ１は、マーキング１５を有する。マーキング１５は、光ファイバテープ１を他の光ファイバテープと識別するためのマークである。マーキング１５のパターンは、テープ番号を示している。ここでは、マーキング１５は、テープ番号が「２番」であることを示しているものとする。 The optical fiber tape 1 has a marking 15. The marking 15 is a mark for distinguishing the optical fiber tape 1 from other optical fiber tapes. The pattern of the marking 15 indicates a tape number. Here, it is assumed that the marking 15 indicates that the tape number is “No. 2”.
　また、光ファイバテープ１を構成する複数の光ファイバ１０は、それぞれ他の光ファイバ１０と識別するための識別色によって色分けされている。例えば、識別色は、光ファイバテープ１におけるファイバ番号を示している。それぞれの光ファイバ１０の識別色は、互いに異なることが望ましい。ここでは、４本の光ファイバ１０が、それぞれ青色、白色、茶色、灰色に色分けされているものとする。但し、識別色の一部が重複しても良い。例えば、４本の光ファイバ１０が、それぞれ青色、白色、白色、桃色の色配列に従って色分けされていても良い。このように２本の光ファイバ１０の識別色（白色）が重複している場合であっても、単心分離した光ファイバ１０が「白色」であり、残っている２本の光ファイバ１０が「白色」と「桃色」であれば、作業者は、単心分離した光ファイバ１０のファイバ番号を例えば「２番」であることを識別できる。 Further, the plurality of optical fibers 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1 are color-coded by identification colors for distinguishing from the other optical fibers 10. For example, the identification color indicates the fiber number in the optical fiber tape 1. It is desirable that the identification colors of the respective optical fibers 10 are different from each other. Here, it is assumed that the four optical fibers 10 are color-coded into blue, white, brown, and gray, respectively. However, some of the identification colors may overlap. For example, the four optical fibers 10 may be color-coded according to a blue, white, white, and pink color arrangement, respectively. Thus, even when the identification colors (white) of the two optical fibers 10 overlap, the single-fiber separated optical fiber 10 is “white”, and the remaining two optical fibers 10 are If it is “white” and “pink”, the operator can identify that the fiber number of the optical fiber 10 separated from the single core is “number 2”, for example.
　図２は、光ファイバテープ１を構成する光ファイバ１０の断面図である。ここでは、連結部５を除去した状態での光ファイバ１０の断面図が示されている。また、ここでは、マーキング１５が施された部位における光ファイバ１０の断面図が示されている。 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 constituting the optical fiber tape 1. Here, a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 with the connecting portion 5 removed is shown. In addition, here, a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber 10 at a portion where the marking 15 is provided is shown.
　光ファイバ１０は、光ファイバ部１１と、被覆部１３と、マーキング１５と、透明樹脂層１７とを有する。 The optical fiber 10 includes an optical fiber portion 11, a covering portion 13, a marking 15, and a transparent resin layer 17.
　光ファイバ部１１は、コア１１Ａ及びクラッド１１Ｂから構成された部位である。光ファイバ部１１は、例えばガラス光ファイバから構成される。光ファイバ部１１の直径は、約１２５μｍである。 The optical fiber part 11 is a part composed of a core 11A and a clad 11B. The optical fiber part 11 is comprised, for example from a glass optical fiber. The diameter of the optical fiber portion 11 is about 125 μm.
　被覆部１３は、光ファイバ部１１の外周囲を被覆する部位である。被覆部１３は、２層構造になっており、一次被覆層１３Ａ（プライマリー・コーティング）と、二次被覆層１３Ｂ（セカンダリー・コーティング）とから構成されている。被覆部１３の直径（二次被覆層１３Ｂの外径）は、約２４０μｍである。 The covering portion 13 is a portion that covers the outer periphery of the optical fiber portion 11. The covering portion 13 has a two-layer structure, and includes a primary covering layer 13A (primary coating) and a secondary covering layer 13B (secondary coating). The diameter of the covering portion 13 (the outer diameter of the secondary covering layer 13B) is about 240 μm.
　一次被覆層１３Ａは、光ファイバ部１１の外周囲を被覆する被覆層である。一次被覆層１３Ａは、光ファイバ部１１と接する層である。光ファイバ１０の曲げによる損失を抑制するため、一次被覆層１３Ａは、光ファイバ部１１の伝送損失（曲げによる伝送損失）を低く抑える目的で外力に対するクッション機能を持たせるため、比較的ヤング率の低い材料が用いられる。 The primary coating layer 13 </ b> A is a coating layer that covers the outer periphery of the optical fiber portion 11. The primary coating layer 13 </ b> A is a layer in contact with the optical fiber portion 11. In order to suppress the loss due to bending of the optical fiber 10, the primary coating layer 13 </ b> A has a cushion function against an external force for the purpose of suppressing the transmission loss (transmission loss due to bending) of the optical fiber portion 11. Low material is used.
　二次被覆層１３Ｂは、一次被覆層１３Ａの外周囲を被覆する被覆層である。二次被覆層１３Ｂは、機械的強度を高めるため、比較的ヤング率が高く、伸度の高い靱性のある材料が用いられる。本実施形態では、二次被覆層１３Ｂは、識別色によって着色されている。これにより、二次被覆層１３Ｂは、着色層としての機能も有する。 The secondary coating layer 13B is a coating layer that covers the outer periphery of the primary coating layer 13A. The secondary coating layer 13B is made of a tough material having a relatively high Young's modulus and high elongation in order to increase the mechanical strength. In the present embodiment, the secondary coating layer 13B is colored with an identification color. Thereby, the secondary coating layer 13B also has a function as a colored layer.
　本実施形態では、二次被覆層１３Ｂの着色に用いられる着色剤として、光を透過しにくい隠蔽性の高い着色剤を用いることが可能である。例えば、酸化チタンを含有する着色剤は隠蔽性の高いが、このような着色剤を用いて二次被覆層１３Ｂを着色しても、マーキング１５が着色層（二次被覆層１３Ｂ）の上に形成されるため、マーキング１５が隠蔽されずに済む。このため、本実施形態は、酸化チタンを含有する着色剤を用いて二次被覆層１３Ｂが着色された場合に特に有効である。なお、隠蔽性を有する白色顔料としては、酸化チタンに限られるものではなく、例えば、酸化チタン、亜鉛華、リトポン（硫酸バリウムと硫酸亜鉛の混合物）、鉛白などでも良く、これらの白色顔料を含有する着色剤を用いることも有効である。但し、化学的安定性、安全性、隠蔽性の観点からすると、隠蔽性を有する白色顔料としては酸化チタンが望ましい。なお、二次被覆層１３Ｂの着色に用いられる着色剤として、隠蔽性の低い着色剤も利用可能である。 In the present embodiment, as a colorant used for coloring the secondary coating layer 13B, it is possible to use a colorant having high concealability that does not easily transmit light. For example, a colorant containing titanium oxide is highly concealable, but even if the secondary coating layer 13B is colored using such a colorant, the marking 15 is still on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B). Since it is formed, the marking 15 is not concealed. For this reason, this embodiment is particularly effective when the secondary coating layer 13B is colored using a colorant containing titanium oxide. The white pigment having concealing property is not limited to titanium oxide, and for example, titanium oxide, zinc white, lithopone (a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfate), lead white, etc. may be used. It is also effective to use a colorant to be contained. However, from the viewpoint of chemical stability, safety, and hiding properties, titanium oxide is desirable as the white pigment having hiding properties. In addition, as a coloring agent used for coloring the secondary coating layer 13B, a coloring agent having a low concealability can be used.
　マーキング１５は、二次被覆層１３Ｂの上に形成されている。マーキング１５は、マーキング用インクによって形成されている。ここでは、光ファイバ１０の周方向の一部にのみマーキング１５が形成されているが、全周にわたってマーキング１５を形成することも可能である。 The marking 15 is formed on the secondary coating layer 13B. The marking 15 is formed of marking ink. Here, the marking 15 is formed only on a part of the optical fiber 10 in the circumferential direction, but the marking 15 may be formed over the entire circumference.
　本実施形態では、マーキング１５が着色層（二次被覆層１３Ｂ）の上に形成されるため、マーキング１５を視認し易い。このため、マーキング１５の層の厚さを薄くすることが可能である。後述するように、マーキング１５の層の厚さは２５μｍ以下であることが望ましく、１０μｍ以上２５μｍ以下の範囲内であることが更に望ましい。仮にマーキングの上に隠蔽性の高い着色層が形成されるような場合には、マーキングが視認し難くなるため、マーキング層を厚くする必要が生じる。但し、マーキング層を厚く形成すると、マイクロベンド特性が悪化するという問題が生じてしまう。これに対し、本実施形態では、マーキング１５を薄くできるので、マイクロベンド特性を向上させることができる。すなわち、本実施形態では、マーキング１５の識別性の向上と、マイクロベンド特性の向上という、相反する課題を両方解決できる。 In this embodiment, since the marking 15 is formed on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B), the marking 15 is easily visible. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the layer of the marking 15. As will be described later, the thickness of the marking 15 layer is desirably 25 μm or less, and more desirably within a range of 10 μm to 25 μm. If a colored layer having high concealability is formed on the marking, the marking becomes difficult to visually recognize, so that the marking layer needs to be thick. However, when the marking layer is formed thick, there arises a problem that the microbend characteristics are deteriorated. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the marking 15 can be made thin, the microbend characteristics can be improved. That is, in this embodiment, it is possible to solve both of the conflicting problems of improving the distinguishability of the marking 15 and improving the microbend characteristics.
　透明樹脂層１７は、二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面を被覆する透明な樹脂層である。マーキング１５の施されていない部位では、透明樹脂層１７は、二次被覆層１３Ｂの表面に形成される。マーキング１５が施された部位では、透明樹脂層１７は、マーキング１５の表面に形成される。透明樹脂層１７の直径は、約２５０μｍである。通常の着色された光ファイバ１０では、透明な被覆層（詳しくは二次被覆層）の表面に有色の着色層が形成されるが、本実施形態では、着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面に透明な樹脂層（透明樹脂層１７）が形成されている。透明樹脂層１７を構成する透明樹脂は、通常の有色の着色層を構成する着色剤とほぼ同様の構成であるが、有色顔料が入っていない点で着色剤とは異なっている。 The transparent resin layer 17 is a transparent resin layer that covers the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 </ b> B and the marking 15. In a portion where the marking 15 is not applied, the transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B. The transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the marking 15 at the site where the marking 15 is applied. The diameter of the transparent resin layer 17 is about 250 μm. In the normal colored optical fiber 10, a colored colored layer is formed on the surface of a transparent coating layer (specifically, a secondary coating layer). In this embodiment, the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking are formed. A transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer 17) is formed on the surface 15. The transparent resin constituting the transparent resin layer 17 has substantially the same configuration as the colorant constituting the normal colored colored layer, but is different from the colorant in that no colored pigment is contained.
　ここで、「透明」とは、二次被覆層１３Ｂの識別色の識別性を損なうことなく、透明樹脂層１７越しに二次被覆層１３Ｂの識別色を視認可能な程度に、光を透過することを意味する。このため、透明樹脂層１７は、半透明であることも許容される。なお、透明樹脂層１７が、二次被覆層１３Ｂの識別色を視認可能な程度に透明であれば、比較的濃い色のマーキング１５も、透明樹脂層１７越しに視認可能である。 Here, “transparent” means that light is transmitted through the transparent resin layer 17 to the extent that the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13B is visible without impairing the identification of the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13B. Means that. For this reason, the transparent resin layer 17 is allowed to be translucent. If the transparent resin layer 17 is transparent to the extent that the identification color of the secondary coating layer 13 </ b> B can be visually recognized, the relatively dark marking 15 can also be visually recognized through the transparent resin layer 17.
　本実施形態によれば、マーキング１５の表面に透明樹脂層１７が形成されているため、マーキング１５が外部に露出しないので、透明樹脂層１７によってマーキング１５を保護することができる。このため、本実施形態によれば、マーキング１５が剥がれてしまうことを抑制できる。 According to this embodiment, since the transparent resin layer 17 is formed on the surface of the marking 15, the marking 15 is not exposed to the outside, so that the marking 15 can be protected by the transparent resin layer 17. For this reason, according to this embodiment, it can suppress that the marking 15 peels.
　本実施形態では、図２に示す光ファイバ１０を複数並列させ、隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０を連結部５によって間欠的に連結させることによって、図１に示す間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を構成している。また、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の連結部５は、図２に示す光ファイバ１０の透明樹脂層１７の外側に連結剤を塗布した後に、連結剤を固化させることによって形成されている。本実施形態によれば、光ファイバ１０を単心分離させるために作業者が連結部５を破壊しても、透明樹脂層１７によってマーキング１５が保護されているため、マーキング１５が剥がれてしまうことを抑制できる。このため、図２に示す光ファイバ１０は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１に用いることが特に有効となる。但し、図２に示す光ファイバ１０は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１とは別の用途にも用いることができる。 In the present embodiment, a plurality of optical fibers 10 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in parallel, and the adjacent two optical fibers 10 are intermittently connected by the connecting portion 5, whereby the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 shown in FIG. 1. Is configured. Further, the connecting portion 5 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 is formed by applying a connecting agent to the outside of the transparent resin layer 17 of the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 and then solidifying the connecting agent. According to this embodiment, even if an operator breaks the connecting portion 5 in order to separate the optical fiber 10 from a single core, the marking 15 is peeled off because the marking 15 is protected by the transparent resin layer 17. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is particularly effective to use the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 for the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. However, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 can also be used for applications other than the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
　＜製造方法１＞
　図３は、光ファイバ製造装置３０の説明図である。光ファイバ製造装置３０は、供給装置３１と、印刷装置３２と、塗布装置３３と、硬化装置３４と、ファイバ用ドラム３９とを有する。 <Manufacturing method 1>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30. The optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 30 includes a supply device 31, a printing device 32, a coating device 33, a curing device 34, and a fiber drum 39.
　供給装置３１は、光ファイバを供給する供給源である。供給装置３１から供給される光ファイバは、マーキング１５及び透明樹脂層１７の形成前のものであるとともに、二次被覆層１３Ｂが予め所定の識別色に着色されているものである。ここでは、供給装置３１は、光ファイバを巻き回した供給用ドラムから光ファイバを供給しているが、供給装置３１は、母材から線引きされた光ファイバをドラムに巻き回すことなく印刷装置３２に直接供給しても良い。 The supply device 31 is a supply source that supplies an optical fiber. The optical fiber supplied from the supply device 31 is the one before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed, and the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in advance with a predetermined identification color. Here, the supply device 31 supplies the optical fiber from a supply drum around which the optical fiber is wound. However, the supply device 31 does not wind the optical fiber drawn from the base material around the drum. You may supply directly to.
　印刷装置３２は、光ファイバ（マーキング１５及び透明樹脂層１７の形成前の光ファイバ）にマーキング１５を印刷する装置である。印刷装置３２は、例えばインクジェット式の印刷機であるが、ローラーでインクを転写する印刷機でも良い。マーキング１５を施した光ファイバ（透明樹脂層１７の形成前の光ファイバ）は、印刷装置３２から塗布装置３３へ送り出されることになる。 The printing device 32 is a device that prints the marking 15 on an optical fiber (an optical fiber before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed). The printing device 32 is, for example, an ink jet printer, but may be a printer that transfers ink with a roller. The optical fiber to which the marking 15 is applied (the optical fiber before the formation of the transparent resin layer 17) is sent out from the printing device 32 to the coating device 33.
　塗布装置３３は、二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面に透明樹脂を塗布する装置である。塗布装置３３は、透明樹脂層１７を構成する透明樹脂を塗布する。塗布装置３３の塗布する透明樹脂は、ここでは紫外線硬化樹脂であるが、熱可塑性樹脂であっても良い。 The coating device 33 is a device that applies a transparent resin to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 </ b> B and the marking 15. The coating device 33 applies a transparent resin that constitutes the transparent resin layer 17. The transparent resin to be applied by the coating device 33 is an ultraviolet curable resin here, but may be a thermoplastic resin.
　硬化装置３４は、塗布装置３３で塗布された透明樹脂を硬化させるための装置である。ここでは、透明樹脂が紫外線硬化樹脂であるため、硬化装置３４は、紫外線を照射する照射装置で構成されている。硬化装置３４において透明樹脂が硬化すると、二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面を被覆する透明樹脂層１７が形成されることになる。すなわち、図２に示す光ファイバ１０が製造されることになる。なお、製造された光ファイバ１０は、ファイバ用ドラム３９に巻き回される。 The curing device 34 is a device for curing the transparent resin applied by the coating device 33. Here, since the transparent resin is an ultraviolet curable resin, the curing device 34 includes an irradiation device that irradiates ultraviolet rays. When the transparent resin is cured in the curing device 34, the transparent resin layer 17 that covers the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 is formed. That is, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured. The manufactured optical fiber 10 is wound around a fiber drum 39.
　本実施形態では、予め所定の識別色に着色されている光ファイバが供給装置３１から供給されるため、マーキング１５を形成した後に、着色層を形成する着色工程が不要になる。つまり、本実施形態では、印刷装置３２の下流側に、着色層を形成するための着色装置が不要になる。このため、本実施形態では、所定の識別色（例えば青色）に着色された二次被覆層の上にマーキング１５と透明樹脂層１７を形成することによって所定の識別色の光ファイバ１０を製造した後、別の識別色（例えば黄色）に着色された二次被覆層の上にマーキング１５と透明樹脂層１７を形成することによって別の識別色の光ファイバ１０を製造するときに、同じ塗布装置３３（及び硬化装置３４）を用いることが可能になる。 In this embodiment, since an optical fiber colored in advance with a predetermined identification color is supplied from the supply device 31, a coloring step for forming a colored layer after the marking 15 is formed becomes unnecessary. That is, in the present embodiment, a coloring device for forming a colored layer is not necessary on the downstream side of the printing device 32. For this reason, in this embodiment, the optical fiber 10 having a predetermined identification color is manufactured by forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 on the secondary coating layer colored in a predetermined identification color (for example, blue). Thereafter, when the optical fiber 10 of another identification color is manufactured by forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 on the secondary coating layer colored in another identification color (for example, yellow), the same coating apparatus is used. 33 (and curing device 34) can be used.
　なお、仮にマーキング１５の形成後に着色工程があるとすると、印刷装置３２の下流側に、識別色ごとに着色装置を配置する必要が生じてしまうため、光ファイバ製造装置が大規模なものになってしまう。これに対し、本実施形態では、異なる識別色の光ファイバ１０を製造する場合には、供給装置３１から供給する光ファイバ（マーキング１５及び透明樹脂層１７の形成前の光ファイバ、二次被覆層１３Ｂが予め所定の識別色に着色されている光ファイバ）を変更すれば、印刷装置３２、塗布装置３３及び硬化装置３４をそのまま使用できるので、光ファイバ製造装置３０を小規模にすることが可能になる。 If there is a coloring process after the marking 15 is formed, it is necessary to dispose the coloring device for each identification color on the downstream side of the printing device 32, so that the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus becomes large-scale. End up. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when manufacturing the optical fiber 10 of a different identification color, the optical fiber supplied from the supply device 31 (the optical fiber before forming the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17, the secondary coating layer). If the optical fiber 13B is colored in advance with a predetermined identification color), the printing device 32, the coating device 33, and the curing device 34 can be used as they are, so that the optical fiber manufacturing device 30 can be reduced in scale. become.
　＜製造方法２＞
　図４Ａは、テープ製造装置５０の説明図である。図４Ｂは、塗布装置５３の説明図である。テープ製造装置５０は、供給装置５１と、印刷装置５２と、塗布装置５３と、硬化装置５４と、連結装置５５と、テープ用ドラム５９とを有する。 <Manufacturing method 2>
FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the coating device 53. The tape manufacturing apparatus 50 includes a supply device 51, a printing device 52, a coating device 53, a curing device 54, a connecting device 55, and a tape drum 59.
　供給装置５１は、複数本の光ファイバを供給する供給源である。供給装置５１から供給される光ファイバは、マーキング１５及び透明樹脂層１７の形成前のものであるとともに、二次被覆層１３Ｂが予め所定の識別色に着色されているものである。ここでは、供給装置５１は、複数の供給用ドラムからそれぞれ光ファイバを供給している。但し、供給装置５１は、母材から線引きされた光ファイバをドラムに巻き回すことなく印刷装置５２に直接供給しても良い。 The supply device 51 is a supply source that supplies a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fiber supplied from the supply device 51 is the one before the marking 15 and the transparent resin layer 17 are formed, and the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in a predetermined identification color in advance. Here, the supply device 51 supplies optical fibers from a plurality of supply drums. However, the supply device 51 may supply the optical fiber drawn from the base material directly to the printing device 52 without winding it around a drum.
　印刷装置５２は、複数本の光ファイバにマーキング１５を印刷する装置である。複数本の光ファイバには、共通のパターンのマーキング１５が印刷されることになる。このため、テープ製造装置５０の場合、ローラーから複数本の光ファイバにインクを転写する印刷装置５２の方が、単一の印刷装置５２で複数本の光ファイバに同時に高速で印刷可能であるので、好ましい。印刷装置５２が複数本の光ファイバに同時にマーキング１５を印刷することによって、図１に示すように、各光ファイバ１０のマーキング１５の長手方向の位置を揃えることができる。 The printing device 52 is a device that prints the marking 15 on a plurality of optical fibers. A common pattern of markings 15 is printed on the plurality of optical fibers. For this reason, in the case of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50, the printing apparatus 52 that transfers ink from a roller to a plurality of optical fibers can simultaneously print on a plurality of optical fibers at a high speed with a single printing apparatus 52. ,preferable. When the printing device 52 simultaneously prints the markings 15 on a plurality of optical fibers, the longitudinal positions of the markings 15 of the optical fibers 10 can be aligned as shown in FIG.
　塗布装置５３は、二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面に透明樹脂を塗布する装置である。図４Ｂに示すように、塗布装置５３は、複数のファイバ挿通穴５３Ｂを備えたコーティングダイス５３Ａを備えている。コーティングダイス５３Ａの内部空間には透明樹脂が充填されており、コーティングダイス５３Ａのファイバ挿通穴５３Ｂに光ファイバが挿通されることによって、透明樹脂の塗布された光ファイバがファイバ挿通穴５３Ｂから送り出されることになる。本実施形態の塗布装置５３によれば、複数本の光ファイバの二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面に、共通の透明樹脂を塗布することができる。また、本実施形態の塗布装置５３によれば、異なる識別色の複数の光ファイバに対して、共通のコーティングダイス５３Ａを用いて透明樹脂を塗布することができる。 The coating device 53 is a device that applies a transparent resin to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13 </ b> B and the marking 15. As shown in FIG. 4B, the coating device 53 includes a coating die 53A including a plurality of fiber insertion holes 53B. The internal space of the coating die 53A is filled with a transparent resin, and the optical fiber coated with the transparent resin is sent out from the fiber insertion hole 53B when the optical fiber is inserted into the fiber insertion hole 53B of the coating die 53A. It will be. According to the coating device 53 of the present embodiment, a common transparent resin can be applied to the surfaces of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 of a plurality of optical fibers. Moreover, according to the coating apparatus 53 of this embodiment, it is possible to apply a transparent resin to a plurality of optical fibers having different identification colors using a common coating die 53A.
　ところで、仮にマーキング１５の形成後に着色工程があるとすると、印刷装置５２の下流側に、識別色ごとに着色装置を配置する必要が生じてしまうため、テープ製造装置５０が大規模なものになってしまう。これに対し、本実施形態では、異なる識別色の複数の光ファイバ１０に対して、同じ透明樹脂を塗布すれば良いので、塗布装置５３の構造を簡素化でき、テープ製造装置５０を小規模にすることが可能になる。 By the way, if there is a coloring process after the marking 15 is formed, it is necessary to dispose a coloring device for each identification color on the downstream side of the printing device 52, so that the tape manufacturing device 50 becomes large-scale. End up. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the same transparent resin should just be apply | coated with respect to the some optical fiber 10 of a different identification color, the structure of the coating device 53 can be simplified and the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 can be reduced in scale. It becomes possible to do.
　硬化装置５４（図４Ａ参照）は、塗布装置５３で塗布された透明樹脂を硬化させるための装置である。硬化装置５４は、複数本の光ファイバに対して紫外線を照射する照射装置で構成されている。硬化装置５４において透明樹脂が硬化すると、二次被覆層１３Ｂ及びマーキング１５の表面を被覆する透明樹脂層１７が形成されることになる。すなわち、図２に示す光ファイバ１０が製造されることになる。 The curing device 54 (see FIG. 4A) is a device for curing the transparent resin applied by the coating device 53. The curing device 54 is configured by an irradiation device that irradiates a plurality of optical fibers with ultraviolet rays. When the transparent resin is cured in the curing device 54, the transparent resin layer 17 that covers the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15 is formed. That is, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured.
　連結装置５５は、連結剤によって光ファイバ１０を連結して、光ファイバテープ１を形成する装置である。連結装置５５は、隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０の間に連結剤（紫外線硬化樹脂）を塗布し、紫外線を照射することによって連結剤を硬化させることによって、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を形成する。また、連結装置５５は、並列する複数の光ファイバ１０の周囲や光ファイバ１０間に連結剤を一旦塗布した後に、塗布された連結剤の一部を除去してから紫外線を照射することによって、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を形成しても良い。連結剤は、紫外線硬化樹脂に限られるものではなく、熱可塑性樹脂や他の接着剤等でも良い。なお、製造された光ファイバテープ１は、テープ用ドラム５９に巻き回される。 The connecting device 55 is a device that forms the optical fiber tape 1 by connecting the optical fibers 10 with a connecting agent. The coupling device 55 applies the coupling agent (ultraviolet curable resin) between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 and cures the coupling agent by irradiating ultraviolet rays, whereby the intermittently coupled optical fiber tape 1 is removed. Form. In addition, the coupling device 55, after temporarily applying the coupling agent around the plurality of optical fibers 10 in parallel or between the optical fibers 10, after removing a part of the applied coupling agent, by irradiating ultraviolet rays, An intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 may be formed. The coupling agent is not limited to the ultraviolet curable resin, and may be a thermoplastic resin or other adhesive. The manufactured optical fiber tape 1 is wound around a tape drum 59.
　＝＝＝第２実施形態＝＝＝
　前述の光ファイバテープ１の製造方法では、着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面に透明な樹脂層（透明樹脂層１７）を形成することによって図２に示す光ファイバ１０を一旦製造し、その後に、図２に示す光ファイバ１０に連結剤（テープ化剤）を塗布・固化させることによって、図１に示す間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を構成している。このため、前述の製造方法では、着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面に形成された透明樹脂層１７の外側に、連結剤よって形成された連結部４が形成されることになる。
　但し、着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面に形成する透明な樹脂層を、連結剤（テープ化剤）によって形成しても良い。つまり、透明樹脂層１７と連結部５とを兼用させることによって、透明樹脂層１７を構成する透明樹脂によって連結部５が形成されても良い。 === Second Embodiment ===
In the manufacturing method of the optical fiber tape 1 described above, the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2 is once manufactured by forming a transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer 17) on the surface of the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15. Then, by applying and solidifying a connecting agent (tape agent) to the optical fiber 10 shown in FIG. 2, the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured. For this reason, in the manufacturing method described above, the connecting portion 4 formed by the connecting agent is formed outside the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the transparent resin layer 17 formed on the surface of the marking 15. .
However, you may form the transparent secondary resin layer 13B and the transparent resin layer which forms on the surface of the marking 15 with a coupling agent (tape agent). That is, by using the transparent resin layer 17 and the connecting portion 5 together, the connecting portion 5 may be formed of the transparent resin that constitutes the transparent resin layer 17.
　図５Ａは、第２実施形態のテープ製造装置５０の説明図である。図５Ｂは、第２実施形態の連結装置５５の説明図である。図５Ｃは、第２実施形態の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１において隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０の断面図（連結部５によって連結された部位の断面図）である。第２実施形態のテープ製造装置５０は、供給装置５１と、印刷装置５２と、連結装置５５と、テープ用ドラム５９とを有する。なお、前述の実施形態において印刷装置５２と連結装置５５と間に配置されていた塗布装置５３及び硬化装置５４が、第２実施形態では配置されていない（図５Ａ参照）。このため、第２実施形態のテープ製造装置５０は、第１実施形態と比べて、簡略化されている。 FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the coupling device 55 of the second embodiment. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view of a portion connected by the connecting portion 5) of two adjacent optical fibers 10 in the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of the second embodiment. The tape manufacturing apparatus 50 according to the second embodiment includes a supply device 51, a printing device 52, a connecting device 55, and a tape drum 59. Note that the coating device 53 and the curing device 54 arranged between the printing device 52 and the connecting device 55 in the above-described embodiment are not arranged in the second embodiment (see FIG. 5A). For this reason, the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 of 2nd Embodiment is simplified compared with 1st Embodiment.
　供給装置５１は、前述の実施形態と同様に、所定の識別色に着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂを有する光ファイバ（マーキング１５の形成前の光ファイバ）を印刷装置５２に供給する。印刷装置５２は、前述の実施形態と同様に、二次被覆層１３Ｂの上にマーキング１５を形成する。第２実施形態では、印刷装置５２と連結装置５５と間に塗布装置５３及び硬化装置５４が配置されていないため、印刷装置５２は、マーキング１５の形成された光ファイバを連結装置５５に供給することになる。 The supply device 51 supplies the printing device 52 with the optical fiber (the optical fiber before forming the marking 15) having the secondary coating layer 13B colored in a predetermined identification color, as in the above-described embodiment. The printing device 52 forms the marking 15 on the secondary coating layer 13B as in the above-described embodiment. In the second embodiment, since the coating device 53 and the curing device 54 are not disposed between the printing device 52 and the coupling device 55, the printing device 52 supplies the optical fiber on which the marking 15 is formed to the coupling device 55. It will be.
　連結装置５５は、塗布部５５１と、除去部５５２と、不図示の硬化部とを有する。 The connecting device 55 includes an application unit 551, a removal unit 552, and a curing unit (not shown).
　塗布部５５１は、光ファイバに連結剤を塗布する装置である。連結剤は、透明樹脂で構成されており、ここでは透明な紫外線硬化樹脂で構成されている。塗布部５５１は、液状の連結剤を充填させたコーティングダイスに複数の光ファイバを挿通させることによって、長手方向にわたって、それぞれの光ファイバの周囲に液状の連結剤を塗布するとともに、隣接する光ファイバの間にも液状の連結剤を塗布する。 Application unit 551 is an apparatus that applies a coupling agent to an optical fiber. The coupling agent is made of a transparent resin, and here is made of a transparent ultraviolet curable resin. The application unit 551 applies a liquid linking agent around each optical fiber in the longitudinal direction by inserting a plurality of optical fibers through a coating die filled with a liquid linking agent, and adjacent optical fibers. A liquid linking agent is also applied between the two.
　除去部５５２は、塗布部５５１によって塗布された連結剤の一部を残しつつ、一部を除去する装置である。除去部５５２は、凹部を有する回転刃５５２Ａを有しており、光ファイバの供給速度に合わせて回転刃５５２Ａを回転させる。隣接する２心の光ファイバの間に塗布された連結剤は、回転刃５５２Ａの外縁によって除去されるが、回転刃５５２Ａの凹部では連結剤が残留する。この結果、塗布部５５１及び除去部５５２によって、光ファイバの長手方向にわたって、それぞれの光ファイバの周囲（二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面）に液状の連結剤が塗布されるとともに、隣接する光ファイバの間に間欠的に液状の連結剤が塗布されることになる。なお、隣接する光ファイバの間に間欠的に連結剤を塗布できるのであれば、除去部５５２を用いた方法に限られるものではない。 The removal unit 552 is a device that removes a part of the coupling agent applied by the application unit 551 while leaving a part of the binder. The removal unit 552 has a rotary blade 552A having a recess, and rotates the rotary blade 552A in accordance with the supply speed of the optical fiber. The coupling agent applied between the two adjacent optical fibers is removed by the outer edge of the rotary blade 552A, but the coupling agent remains in the recess of the rotary blade 552A. As a result, the liquid connecting agent is applied to the periphery of each optical fiber (the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15) along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber by the applying unit 551 and the removing unit 552 and adjacent to each other. A liquid coupling agent is intermittently applied between the optical fibers. Note that the method using the removing unit 552 is not limited as long as the connecting agent can be intermittently applied between adjacent optical fibers.
　除去部５５２の下流側には、不図示の硬化部が配置されている。硬化部は、連結剤を硬化させるために装置であり、ここでは、紫外線硬化樹脂で構成された連結剤に紫外線を照射する光源である。硬化部から紫外線を照射することによって連結剤を硬化させることによって、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を形成する。なお、隣接する２心の光ファイバの間に残留した連結剤は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の連結部５となる。また、隣接する２心の光ファイバの間で連結剤の除去された部位は、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の非連結部７となる。また、長手方向にわたって光ファイバの周囲（二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面）に塗布された連結剤は、除去部５５２では除去されずに、そのまま光ファイバの周囲に残留するため、二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面を覆う透明な樹脂層となる。 A hardened portion (not shown) is disposed on the downstream side of the removing portion 552. The curing unit is an apparatus for curing the linking agent, and here is a light source that irradiates the linking agent made of an ultraviolet curable resin with ultraviolet rays. The intermittent connection type optical fiber tape 1 is formed by curing the coupling agent by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the curing portion. Note that the linking agent remaining between the two adjacent optical fibers becomes the connecting portion 5 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. Further, the portion from which the coupling agent is removed between the two adjacent optical fibers becomes the non-connected portion 7 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1. Further, since the binder applied to the periphery of the optical fiber (the surface of the secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15) in the longitudinal direction remains as it is around the optical fiber without being removed by the removing unit 552, It becomes a transparent resin layer covering the surface of the coating layer 13B and the marking 15.
　第２実施形態においても、図５Ｃに示すように、着色された二次被覆層１３Ｂとマーキング１５の表面に透明な樹脂層（連結剤によって形成された透明樹脂層）が形成される。このため、第２実施形態においても、マーキング１５が外部に露出しないので、透明樹脂層によってマーキング１５を保護することができる。 Also in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, a transparent resin layer (transparent resin layer formed by a coupling agent) is formed on the surfaces of the colored secondary coating layer 13B and the marking 15. For this reason, also in 2nd Embodiment, since the marking 15 is not exposed outside, the marking 15 can be protected by the transparent resin layer.
　＝＝＝実施例＝＝＝
　＜実施例１＞
　１２心の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープを製造した。
　実施例１の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープとして、図４Ａに示す製造方法に従って、二次被覆層１３Ｂを識別色に着色した光ファイバにマーキング１５を印刷し、透明樹脂層１７を形成することによって、図２に示す構造の光ファイバ１０を１２本製造するとともに、隣接する２心の光ファイバ１０の間に間欠的に連結部５を形成し、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１を製造した。
　また、比較例１の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープとして、透明な二次被覆層の上にマーキングを印刷し、二次被覆層及びマーキングの上に着色層を形成した１２本の光ファイバによって、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープを製造した。 === Example ===
<Example 1>
A 12-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tape was manufactured.
As the intermittently connected optical fiber tape of Example 1, according to the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 4A, the marking 15 is printed on the optical fiber in which the secondary coating layer 13B is colored in an identification color, and the transparent resin layer 17 is formed. 2, 12 optical fibers 10 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 were manufactured, and the connecting portion 5 was intermittently formed between the two adjacent optical fibers 10 to manufacture the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1.
Further, as the intermittently connected optical fiber tape of Comparative Example 1, the marking is printed on the transparent secondary coating layer, and the 12 optical fibers in which the colored layer is formed on the secondary coating layer and the marking, An intermittently connected optical fiber tape was manufactured.
　実施例１及び比較例１の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープでは、１２本の光ファイバがそれぞれ異なる識別色で色分けされている。但し、実施例１では、二次被覆層１３Ｂが着色されることによって色分けされているのに対し、比較例１では、二次被覆層及びマーキングを被覆する着色層によって色分けされている。なお、実施例１の光ファイバテープ１を製造したテープ製造装置５０は、比較例１の光ファイバテープを製造したテープ製造装置と比べて、印刷装置５２の下流側に１２色の着色層をそれぞれ形成するための着色装置が不要になるため、製造装置を小規模にすることができた。 In the intermittently connected optical fiber tapes of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, 12 optical fibers are color-coded with different identification colors. However, in Example 1, the secondary coating layer 13B is color-coded by being colored, whereas in Comparative Example 1, it is color-coded by the secondary coating layer and the colored layer covering the marking. In addition, the tape manufacturing apparatus 50 which manufactured the optical fiber tape 1 of Example 1 compared with the tape manufacturing apparatus which manufactured the optical fiber tape of the comparative example 1, 12 color layers are each downstream in the printing apparatus 52, respectively. Since the coloring apparatus for forming is unnecessary, the manufacturing apparatus can be reduced in scale.
　また、実施例１及び比較例１の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープのマーキングの識別性を評価した。評価結果は、次の表１に示す通りである。 Also, the marking discrimination of the intermittently connected optical fiber tapes of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was evaluated. The evaluation results are as shown in Table 1 below.
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000001
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000001
　表１に示す通り、比較例１よりも実施例１の方が、マーキングの識別性が良好であることが確認された。この理由は、実施例１では透明樹脂層１７越しにマーキング１５を識別するのに対し、比較例１では着色層越しにマーキングを識別するためだと考えられる。 As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that Example 1 had better marking discrimination than Comparative Example 1. The reason for this is considered that the marking 15 is identified through the transparent resin layer 17 in Example 1 while the marking is identified through the colored layer in Comparative Example 1.
　なお、比較例１では、着色層が白色・灰色・水色・桃色のものは識別性が特に低かったのにも関わらず、実施例１では同色の識別性が良好であった。これは、白色・灰色・水色・桃色の着色剤には隠蔽性を有する白色顔料（具体的には酸化チタン）が含有していたため、比較例１では着色層がマーキングを隠蔽してしまったのに対し、実施例１ではマーキング１５が着色層（二次被覆層１３Ｂ）の上に形成されるため、マーキング１５が隠蔽されなかったためだと考えられる。このため、酸化チタンを含有する着色剤を用いて二次被覆層を着色した場合に特に有効であることが確認された。 In Comparative Example 1, although the color layers of white, gray, light blue, and pink had particularly low discrimination, Example 1 showed good discrimination of the same color. This is because the white, gray, light blue, and pink colorants contained a white pigment (specifically, titanium oxide) having a concealing property, and in Comparative Example 1, the colored layer concealed the marking. On the other hand, in Example 1, since the marking 15 is formed on the colored layer (secondary coating layer 13B), it is considered that the marking 15 was not concealed. For this reason, it was confirmed that it was particularly effective when the secondary coating layer was colored using a colorant containing titanium oxide.
　＜実施例２＞
　次に、間欠連結型の光ファイバテープの光ファイバを単心分離した後のマーキングの識別性の評価を行った。実施例２として、前述の実施例１の間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ１の光ファイバ１０を単心分離した後、ヤスリなどの除去具を使用して光ファイバ１０に付着していた連結剤（連結部５）を除去し、その上でマーキング１５の識別性を評価した。また、比較例２として、前述の比較例１の光ファイバテープの光ファイバを単心分離した後、同様に連結剤（連結部）を除去し、その上でマーキングの識別性を評価した。評価結果は、次の表２に示す通りである。 <Example 2>
Next, evaluation of the discriminability of the marking after single-fiber separation of the optical fiber of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape was performed. As Example 2, the optical fiber 10 of the intermittently connected optical fiber tape 1 of Example 1 described above was separated from the single fiber, and then the connecting agent (attached to the optical fiber 10 using a removal tool such as a file was used. The connecting part 5) was removed and the discrimination of the marking 15 was evaluated on it. Further, as Comparative Example 2, after single-fiber separation of the optical fiber of the optical fiber tape of Comparative Example 1 described above, the connecting agent (connecting portion) was similarly removed, and the marking discrimination was evaluated. The evaluation results are as shown in Table 2 below.
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000002
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000002
　表２に示す通り、比較例２よりも実施例２の方が、マーキングの識別性が良好であることが確認された。この理由は、実施例２では、マーキングの剥がれが確認されなかったのに対し、比較例２では、マーキングの一部が剥がれていることが確認されており、この結果、マーキングの識別性が低下したためだと考えられる。 As shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that Example 2 had better marking discrimination than Comparative Example 2. The reason for this is that in Example 2, marking peeling was not confirmed, whereas in Comparative Example 2, it was confirmed that a part of the marking was peeled off. It is thought that it was because of.
　＜実施例３＞
　実施例３の光ファイバとして、酸化チタンの配合された着色剤（隠蔽性の高い着色剤）で二次被覆層１３Ｂを着色した光ファイバにマーキング１５を印刷し、透明樹脂層１７を形成することによって、図２に示す構造の単心光ファイバ１０を製造した。
　また、比較例３の光ファイバとして、透明な二次被覆層の上にマーキングを印刷し、二次被覆層及びマーキングの上に、酸化チタンの配合された着色剤（隠蔽性の高い着色剤）で着色した着色層を形成した単心光ファイバを製造した。
　実施例３及び比較例３では、マーキング層の厚さを異ならせた複数種類の単心光ファイバを製造した。なお、いずれの単心光ファイバとも国際標準機関ＩＴＵ－Ｔの勧告Ｇ６５７準拠のＡ２ファイバである。 <Example 3>
As the optical fiber of Example 3, the marking 15 is printed on the optical fiber in which the secondary coating layer 13B is colored with a colorant containing titanium oxide (colorant having high concealment) to form the transparent resin layer 17. Thus, the single-core optical fiber 10 having the structure shown in FIG. 2 was manufactured.
In addition, as an optical fiber of Comparative Example 3, a marking is printed on a transparent secondary coating layer, and a colorant in which titanium oxide is blended on the secondary coating layer and the marking (colorant having high concealability). A single-core optical fiber formed with a colored layer colored with was manufactured.
In Example 3 and Comparative Example 3, a plurality of types of single-core optical fibers having different marking layer thicknesses were manufactured. Note that any single-core optical fiber is an A2 fiber that conforms to recommendation G657 of the international standard organization ITU-T.
　マーキング層の厚さの異なる単心光ファイバのそれぞれのマイクロベンド損失変動量を測定した。マイクロベンド損失変動量は、ＩＥＣ／ＴＲ６２２２１（Edition 2.0）に準拠した測定法で測定した。なお、測定条件は、メッシュが＃３６０であり、張力が１００ｇｆである。マイクロベンド損失変動量の評価は測定波長１５５０ｎｍにおける値を用いた。測定結果は、図６に示す通りである。図中の横軸は、マーキング層厚（詳しくは、最大膜厚）を示している。縦軸は、マイクロベンド損失変動量を示す伝送損失（単位：ｄＢ／ｋｍ）である。図中の右上がりの実線（最小自乗法に基づく直線）に示すように、マーキング層が厚くなるほど、マイクロベンド損失変動量が増大することが理解できる。なお、マーキング層が２５μｍ以下であれば、マイクロベンド損失変動量が判定基準となる０．４ｄＢ／ｋｍ以下となることが確認された。 The microbend loss fluctuation amount of each single-core optical fiber having a different marking layer thickness was measured. The microbend loss fluctuation amount was measured by a measuring method based on IEC / TR62221 (Edition 2.0). Measurement conditions are # 360 for mesh and 100 gf for tension. The microbend loss fluctuation amount was evaluated using a value at a measurement wavelength of 1550 nm. The measurement results are as shown in FIG. The horizontal axis in the figure indicates the marking layer thickness (specifically, the maximum film thickness). The vertical axis represents transmission loss (unit: dB / km) indicating the microbend loss fluctuation amount. It can be understood that the microbend loss fluctuation amount increases as the marking layer becomes thicker, as shown by the solid line rising to the right in the figure (straight line based on the least square method). In addition, when the marking layer was 25 μm or less, it was confirmed that the microbend loss fluctuation amount was 0.4 dB / km or less, which is a criterion.
　また、マーキング層の厚さを異ならせた光ファイバについて、マーキングの識別性と、マイクロベンド特性とを総合評価した。ここでは、マイクロベンド損失変動量が０．４ｄＢ／ｋｍ以下であればマイクロベンド特性が「良好」と評価し、マイクロベンド損失変動量が０．４ｄＢ／ｋｍより高ければマイクロベンド特性が「不良」と評価した。評価結果は、次の表３に示す通りである。 In addition, the optical fiber with different marking layer thicknesses was evaluated comprehensively for marking discrimination and microbend characteristics. Here, if the microbend loss fluctuation amount is 0.4 dB / km or less, the microbend characteristic is evaluated as “good”, and if the microbend loss fluctuation amount is higher than 0.4 dB / km, the microbend characteristic is “bad”. It was evaluated. The evaluation results are as shown in Table 3 below.
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000003
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000003
　表３に示す通り、マイクロベンド損失変動量が判定基準となる０．４ｄＢ／ｋｍ以下となるマーキング層厚が２５μｍ以下において、比較例３よりも実施例３の方が、マーキングの識別性が良いことが確認された。また、実施例３では、マーキング層厚が１０μｍ以上２５μｍ以下の範囲において、マーキングの識別性とマイクロベンド特性が両立されていることが確認された。また、マーキング層厚が１０μｍ以下の範囲では、比較例３ではマーキングの識別性が不良であるにも関わらず、実施例３ではマーキングを識別可能であることが確認された。 As shown in Table 3, the marking discriminability is better in Example 3 than in Comparative Example 3 when the marking layer thickness is 25 μm or less where the microbend loss fluctuation amount is 0.4 dB / km or less, which is the criterion. It was confirmed. Further, in Example 3, it was confirmed that the marking discriminability and the microbend characteristics are compatible in the marking layer thickness range of 10 μm to 25 μm. Further, in the range where the marking layer thickness is 10 μm or less, it was confirmed that the marking could be identified in Example 3 although the marking identification in Comparative Example 3 was poor.
　＝＝＝その他の実施形態＝＝＝
　上述の実施形態は、本発明の理解を容易にするためのものであり、本発明を限定して解釈するためのものではない。本発明は、その趣旨を逸脱することなく、変更・改良され得ると共に、本発明には、その等価物が含まれることは言うまでもない。 === Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.
１　光ファイバテープ、５　連結部、７　非連結部、
１０　光ファイバ、１１　光ファイバ部、
１１Ａ　コア、１１Ｂ　クラッド、
１３　被覆部、１３Ａ　一次被覆層、１３Ｂ　二次被覆層、
１５　マーキング、１７　透明樹脂層、
３０　光ファイバ製造装置、３１　供給装置、
３２　印刷装置、３３　塗布装置、
３４　硬化装置、３９　ファイバ用ドラム、
５０　テープ製造装置、５１　供給装置、
５２　印刷装置、５３　塗布装置、
５３Ａ　コーティングダイス、５３Ｂ　ファイバ挿通穴、
５４　硬化装置、５５　連結装置、５９　テープ用ドラム 1 optical fiber tape, 5 connecting part, 7 non-connecting part,
10 optical fiber, 11 optical fiber part,
11A core, 11B cladding,
13 coating part, 13A primary coating layer, 13B secondary coating layer,
15 marking, 17 transparent resin layer,
30 optical fiber manufacturing equipment, 31 feeding equipment,
32 printing device, 33 coating device,
34 curing device, 39 fiber drum,
50 tape manufacturing equipment, 51 feeding equipment,
52 printing device, 53 coating device,
53A coating die, 53B fiber insertion hole,
54 curing device, 55 coupling device, 59 drum for tape

Claims (11)

  1. 　コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、
    　前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、
    　前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、
    　前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層と
    を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバ。     An optical fiber part composed of a core and a clad;
    A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and is composed of a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer;
    A marking formed on the secondary coating layer;
    An optical fiber comprising the secondary coating layer and a transparent resin layer in which the marking is coated with a transparent resin.
  2. 　請求項１に記載の光ファイバであって、
    　前記二次被覆層を着色する着色剤は、隠蔽性を有する白色顔料を含むことを特徴とする光ファイバ。     The optical fiber according to claim 1,
    The optical fiber, wherein the colorant for coloring the secondary coating layer contains a white pigment having a concealing property.
  3. 　請求項１又は２に記載の光ファイバであって、
    　前記マーキングの層の厚さが２５μｍ以下であることを特徴とする光ファイバ。     The optical fiber according to claim 1 or 2,
    An optical fiber having a thickness of the marking layer of 25 μm or less.
  4. 　請求項３に記載の光ファイバであって、
    　前記マーキングの層の厚さが１０μｍ以上２５μｍ以下の範囲内であることを特徴とする光ファイバ。     The optical fiber according to claim 3,
    An optical fiber, wherein a thickness of the marking layer is in a range of 10 μm to 25 μm.
  5. 　複数本の光ファイバを備え、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を連結する連結部が間欠的に配置された間欠連結型の光ファイバテープであって、
    　前記光ファイバは、
    　　　　コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、
    　　　　前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、
    　　　　前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、
    　　　　前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層と
    を備え、
    　前記連結部は、前記透明樹脂層の上に形成されている
    ことを特徴とする間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ。     An intermittently connected type optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers, in which connecting portions for connecting between the adjacent optical fibers are intermittently arranged,
    The optical fiber is
    An optical fiber part composed of a core and a clad;
    A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and is composed of a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer;
    A marking formed on the secondary coating layer;
    A secondary resin layer and a transparent resin layer in which the marking is coated with a transparent resin;
    The said connection part is formed on the said transparent resin layer, The intermittent connection type optical fiber tape characterized by the above-mentioned.
  6. 　複数本の光ファイバを備え、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を連結する連結部が間欠的に配置された間欠連結型の光ファイバテープであって、
    　前記光ファイバは、
    　　　　コア及びクラッドからなる光ファイバ部と、
    　　　　前記光ファイバ部を被覆し、一次被覆層及び着色された二次被覆層からなる被覆層と、
    　　　　前記二次被覆層の上に形成されたマーキングと、
    　　　　前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層と
    を備え、
    　前記連結部は、前記透明樹脂層を構成する前記透明樹脂によって形成されている
    ことを特徴とする間欠連結型の光ファイバテープ。     An intermittently connected type optical fiber tape comprising a plurality of optical fibers, in which connecting portions for connecting between the adjacent optical fibers are intermittently arranged,
    The optical fiber is
    An optical fiber part composed of a core and a clad;
    A coating layer that covers the optical fiber portion and is composed of a primary coating layer and a colored secondary coating layer;
    A marking formed on the secondary coating layer;
    A secondary resin layer and a transparent resin layer in which the marking is coated with a transparent resin;
    The said connection part is formed of the said transparent resin which comprises the said transparent resin layer, The intermittent connection type optical fiber tape characterized by the above-mentioned.
  7. 　着色された二次被覆層を備えた光ファイバを供給する工程と、
    　前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングを形成する工程と、
    　前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層を形成する工程と
    を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバ製造方法。     Providing an optical fiber with a colored secondary coating layer;
    Forming a marking on the secondary coating layer;
    And a step of forming a transparent resin layer in which the secondary coating layer and the marking are coated with a transparent resin.
  8. 　請求項７に記載の光ファイバ製造方法であって、
    　所定の識別色に着色された前記二次被覆層の上に前記マーキングを形成し、塗布装置を用いて前記透明樹脂を塗布することによって前記透明樹脂層を形成することによって、前記所定の識別色の光ファイバを製造した後、
    　前記所定の識別色とは別の識別色に着色された前記二次被覆層の上に前記マーキングを形成し、前記所定の識別色の光ファイバの製造に用いられた前記塗布装置を用いて前記透明樹脂を塗布することによって、前記別の識別色の光ファイバを製造する
    ことを特徴とする光ファイバ製造方法。     The optical fiber manufacturing method according to claim 7,
    The predetermined identification color is formed by forming the marking on the secondary coating layer colored in a predetermined identification color, and forming the transparent resin layer by applying the transparent resin using a coating apparatus. After manufacturing the optical fiber of
    The marking is formed on the secondary coating layer colored in an identification color different from the predetermined identification color, and the coating apparatus used for manufacturing the optical fiber of the predetermined identification color is used. An optical fiber manufacturing method, characterized in that an optical fiber of another distinctive color is manufactured by applying a transparent resin.
  9. 　着色された二次被覆層によって色分けされた複数の光ファイバを供給する工程と、
    　前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングをそれぞれ形成する工程と、
    　前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングを透明樹脂で被覆した透明樹脂層をそれぞれ形成する工程と、
    　前記透明樹脂層で被覆された前記複数の光ファイバに対して、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を間欠的に連結する工程と、
    を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバテープ製造方法。     Providing a plurality of optical fibers color-coded by a colored secondary coating layer;
    Forming a marking on the secondary coating layer for each of the plurality of optical fibers;
    Forming a secondary resin layer and a transparent resin layer in which the marking is coated with a transparent resin for the plurality of optical fibers; and
    For the plurality of optical fibers coated with the transparent resin layer, intermittently connecting between the adjacent optical fibers;
    An optical fiber tape manufacturing method comprising:
  10. 　請求項９に記載の光ファイバテープ製造方法であって、
    　内部に前記透明樹脂が充填されたコーティングダイスの複数の挿通穴に、異なる識別色の複数の光ファイバを挿通させることによって、前記複数の光ファイバに対して前記透明樹脂をそれぞれ塗布することを特徴とする光ファイバテープ製造方法。     An optical fiber tape manufacturing method according to claim 9,
    The transparent resin is respectively applied to the plurality of optical fibers by inserting a plurality of optical fibers of different identification colors into the plurality of insertion holes of the coating die filled with the transparent resin inside. An optical fiber tape manufacturing method.
  11. 　着色された二次被覆層によって色分けされた複数の光ファイバを供給する工程と、
    　前記複数の光ファイバに対して、前記二次被覆層の上にマーキングをそれぞれ形成する工程と、
    　前記光ファイバの長手方向にわたって、それぞれの光ファイバの前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングの表面に連結剤を塗布するとともに、隣接する光ファイバの間に間欠的に前記連結剤を塗布する工程と、
    　前記連結剤を硬化させて、隣接する前記光ファイバの間を間欠的に連結するとともに、それぞれの光ファイバの前記二次被覆層及び前記マーキングの表面に透明樹脂層を形成する工程と、
    を備えることを特徴とする光ファイバテープ製造方法。     Providing a plurality of optical fibers color-coded by a colored secondary coating layer;
    Forming a marking on the secondary coating layer for each of the plurality of optical fibers;
    Applying a binder to the surface of the secondary coating layer and the marking of each optical fiber over the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and intermittently applying the binder between adjacent optical fibers;
    Curing the coupling agent, intermittently coupling between the adjacent optical fibers, and forming a transparent resin layer on the surface of the secondary coating layer and the marking of each optical fiber;
    An optical fiber tape manufacturing method comprising:
PCT/JP2017/045596 2016-12-28 2017-12-19 Optical fiber, optical fiber tape, and method for manufacturing optical fiber and optical fiber tape WO2018123743A1 (en)

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CN112433320A (en) * 2020-12-18 2021-03-02 南京华信藤仓光通信有限公司 Manufacturing method for reducing attenuation of identification optical fiber
CN114008500A (en) * 2019-08-21 2022-02-01 株式会社藤仓 Intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon
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